What is the product of adding KOH and Mg(OH)2 to these molecules?

a)p-hydroxybenzoic acid+KOH
b)p-hydroxybenzoic acid+Mg(OH)2

1 Answer
Truong-Son N.
Aug 3, 2017

Well, my instinct is... that the only thing that occurs is deprotonation and charge stabilization.

The carboxylic acid proton should be the first one deprotonated in preference to the hydroxyl proton, given that its #"pK"_a# is lower (as it is for a stronger acid, i.e. a weaker #"O"-"H"# bond).

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